Pedigree Zwartbles sheep breeders in the Republic of Ireland have been given the green light to establish an official national society of their own.

Formed under the name Zwartbles Eire National Sheep Society, it is a recognised and registered society; Irish breeders can now register their flock here, rather than in the UK – as has been the case for the last number of years.

Getting rid of the need to send forms and relevant material to the UK should ensure savings for breeders, the society claims.

All funds raised are set to be used to promote the breed and the society’s breeders in the Republic of Ireland in a fair and impartial manner with the other sheep breeds.

Breeders who sign up to the Irish society in 2018 can transfer their flock name and breeding stock from its UK counterpart for free; an offer unique to this year.

If this is not availed of, a €25 flock prefix registration fee will be charged. As well as this, an importation fee of €15/animal will be required to transfer sheep to the society’s flock book from another society.

The society also explained that a new identification and tagging system will be put in place here, rather than the numerical system operating in the UK.

Zwartbles Eire is set to hold its inaugural championship at the RDS sheep show being held at the Cillin Hill Centre in Co. Kilkenny on June 9, which is being hosted by the National Sheep Breeders’ Association.

Only members of Zwartbles Eire will be permitted to compete in the Zwartbles classes at the championship.

Breeders looking for more information can email: [email protected] or: [email protected]. Alternatively, they contact Tim Kelleher on: 085-7183910.